Alveley
Encyclopedia
Alveley is a village
and civil parish in south east Shropshire
, England
, along the Severn Valley
on the east side of the River Severn
. It has appeared in records dating back to AD50.
The current church (St. Mary's) is of Norman
design, built in 1140 on the grounds of an earlier Saxon
church (of which only a stone cross survives). It has a notable, although badly damaged, 14th Century mural of the Seven Deadly Sins
.
In 1349 the Black Death
is said to have killed 60% of the village population. A stone cross - The Buttercross - two miles outside the village dates back to the time of the Black Death when it was a place for food to be left for the village when it was quarantined.
From 1937 to 1969 the village was an active coal mining
community in conjunction with the neighbouring village of Highley
across the River Severn
. The first mineshaft was sunk in 1935 at Alveley Colliery, but production was possible for only thirty years and it closed leaving high unemployment and a ravaged landscape. An industrial estate was built immediately after the mine closure
along with a proper landscape reclamation scheme in 1986 and the disused colliery and spoil tips were converted into the Severn Valley Country Park
.
The landscape today consists of meadows, woods, ponds and wetlands with waymarked trails of short and longer lengths to encourage locals and visitors to explore the village's heritage fully. Every year a Miner's Memories Day is held at the Country Park Visitor Centre which permanently houses plenty of mine memorablia along with a cafe and indoor viewpoint over the valley. This display includes miners picks, spikes, crowbars, breathing equipment used in mines rescue, photos (often donated by local residents) and, very movingly, a certificate awarded to a local Alveley miner, who was surely representative of many, on achieving the milestone of "56 years service to the mine and his country".
In 2006 a new footbridge linking Alveley and Highley
was opened in the Country Park
. This replaced the previous 1930s built structure, which had become unsafe. The bridge provides access from Alveley to the Country Park Halt
on the Severn Valley Railway
, which is situated on the Highley side of the river. The riverbank is popular with fishermen, and a number of local private pools further serve the western Midlands
angling
fraternity.
Alveley has several historic pubs including the Three Horseshoes (1406), The Squirrel & The Royal Oak. With a population of around 2000 and five drinking establishments (if you include the Working Men's Club and Mill Hotel), Alveley has the notable statistic of one pub to every 400 residents.
The village is further served by a large primary school, post office, small supermarket/newsagent and a couple of other small shops and eateries.
Alveley Cricket Club http://www.alveleycc.co.uk), was founded in 1908 and played at Coton Hall on the outskirts of the village, at the former home of general Robert E Leas ancestors. After World War Two the club moved to play on the Recreation Ground in the heart of Alveley.
The club has invested heavily in our facilities and have a magnificent ground at Alveley Recreation Ground, and raised a potential player base of 100 people who regularly play cricket for the club. The club has always had a strong commitment to youth cricket and the continued growth in our junior section. So whether you’re a potential junior or adult player we can accommodate players of all standards and ages who want to enjoy and gain success from the sport.
Off the field the club has an active social calendar and regularly hold social events for all the family. Events include a 6 a side competition, BBQ's, charity events as well as screening live sport in The Pavilion
Up to the middle of the 1970's friendly cricket was played before joining the Kidderminster League in 1989. The club now plays in the Worcestershire County League (Saturday) with friendlies played on a Sunday. As well as the two Saturday sides we run a midweek team who play in the Kidderminster League, the club also runs a highly successful junior section for children aged between 4 and 17 years.
The modern pavilion that was built in 1981 that is helped by a beautiful ground. The Pavilion was extended in 2007 as is one of the best in any form of cricket.
A small hamlet to the south-west of the village, Little London
, is one of more than twenty-five settlements which share the capital city's name.
Alan James Nicholls documented the Alveley parish in The History of Alveley, published 1994, ISBN 0-9523134-0-5.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in south east Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, along the Severn Valley
Severn Valley (England)
The Severn Valley is a rural area of mid-western England, through which the River Severn runs and the Severn Valley Railway steam heritage line operates, starting at its northernmost point in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and running south for 16 miles to Bewdley, Worcestershire in the Wyre...
on the east side of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
. It has appeared in records dating back to AD50.
The current church (St. Mary's) is of Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
design, built in 1140 on the grounds of an earlier Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
church (of which only a stone cross survives). It has a notable, although badly damaged, 14th Century mural of the Seven Deadly Sins
Seven deadly sins
The 7 Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin...
.
In 1349 the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
is said to have killed 60% of the village population. A stone cross - The Buttercross - two miles outside the village dates back to the time of the Black Death when it was a place for food to be left for the village when it was quarantined.
From 1937 to 1969 the village was an active coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
community in conjunction with the neighbouring village of Highley
Highley
Highley is a large village in Shropshire, England, on the west bank of the River Severn and on the B4555 road. Highley has a population of approximately 3,100, but is beset by transport problems due to the lack of a road bridge, resulting in a high unemployment rate.-History:Highley began as a...
across the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
. The first mineshaft was sunk in 1935 at Alveley Colliery, but production was possible for only thirty years and it closed leaving high unemployment and a ravaged landscape. An industrial estate was built immediately after the mine closure
Mine closure
Mine closure is the period of time when the ore-extracting activities of a mine have ceased, and final decommissioning and mine reclamation are being completed. It is generally associated with reduced employment levels, which can have a significant negative impact on local economies...
along with a proper landscape reclamation scheme in 1986 and the disused colliery and spoil tips were converted into the Severn Valley Country Park
Severn Valley Country Park
Severn Valley Country Park is a country park in England, located near Alveley, Shropshire, from Bridgnorth, roughly central in the Severn Valley...
.
The landscape today consists of meadows, woods, ponds and wetlands with waymarked trails of short and longer lengths to encourage locals and visitors to explore the village's heritage fully. Every year a Miner's Memories Day is held at the Country Park Visitor Centre which permanently houses plenty of mine memorablia along with a cafe and indoor viewpoint over the valley. This display includes miners picks, spikes, crowbars, breathing equipment used in mines rescue, photos (often donated by local residents) and, very movingly, a certificate awarded to a local Alveley miner, who was surely representative of many, on achieving the milestone of "56 years service to the mine and his country".
In 2006 a new footbridge linking Alveley and Highley
Highley
Highley is a large village in Shropshire, England, on the west bank of the River Severn and on the B4555 road. Highley has a population of approximately 3,100, but is beset by transport problems due to the lack of a road bridge, resulting in a high unemployment rate.-History:Highley began as a...
was opened in the Country Park
Severn Valley Country Park
Severn Valley Country Park is a country park in England, located near Alveley, Shropshire, from Bridgnorth, roughly central in the Severn Valley...
. This replaced the previous 1930s built structure, which had become unsafe. The bridge provides access from Alveley to the Country Park Halt
Country Park Halt railway station
Country Park Halt is an unstaffed request stop on the Severn Valley Railway heritage line in Shropshire, situated near the west bank of the River Severn, about 300 yards north of the footbridge between Highley and Alveley in the Severn Valley....
on the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
, which is situated on the Highley side of the river. The riverbank is popular with fishermen, and a number of local private pools further serve the western Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
fraternity.
Alveley has several historic pubs including the Three Horseshoes (1406), The Squirrel & The Royal Oak. With a population of around 2000 and five drinking establishments (if you include the Working Men's Club and Mill Hotel), Alveley has the notable statistic of one pub to every 400 residents.
The village is further served by a large primary school, post office, small supermarket/newsagent and a couple of other small shops and eateries.
Alveley Cricket Club http://www.alveleycc.co.uk), was founded in 1908 and played at Coton Hall on the outskirts of the village, at the former home of general Robert E Leas ancestors. After World War Two the club moved to play on the Recreation Ground in the heart of Alveley.
The club has invested heavily in our facilities and have a magnificent ground at Alveley Recreation Ground, and raised a potential player base of 100 people who regularly play cricket for the club. The club has always had a strong commitment to youth cricket and the continued growth in our junior section. So whether you’re a potential junior or adult player we can accommodate players of all standards and ages who want to enjoy and gain success from the sport.
Off the field the club has an active social calendar and regularly hold social events for all the family. Events include a 6 a side competition, BBQ's, charity events as well as screening live sport in The Pavilion
Up to the middle of the 1970's friendly cricket was played before joining the Kidderminster League in 1989. The club now plays in the Worcestershire County League (Saturday) with friendlies played on a Sunday. As well as the two Saturday sides we run a midweek team who play in the Kidderminster League, the club also runs a highly successful junior section for children aged between 4 and 17 years.
The modern pavilion that was built in 1981 that is helped by a beautiful ground. The Pavilion was extended in 2007 as is one of the best in any form of cricket.
A small hamlet to the south-west of the village, Little London
Little London, Shropshire
Little London is the name of two hamlets in Shropshire, England.One hamlet is situated near Alveley. It borders with Arley, Worcestershire and its partial woodland forms the outskirts of the Wyre Forest...
, is one of more than twenty-five settlements which share the capital city's name.
Alan James Nicholls documented the Alveley parish in The History of Alveley, published 1994, ISBN 0-9523134-0-5.
External links
- photosof Alveley and surrounding area on geograph]
- http://www.sheridansweep.freeserve.co.uk
- http://www.paintedchurch.org/alveley.htm